Adani's project, among others, up for environmental nod in Australia

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's new government has ordered 47 major coal and coal seam gas projects to seek national environmental approval, including the controversial Kevin's Corner project proposed by the country's richest person Gina Rinehart.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt said they needed to be assessed for their impact on water supplies, adding the move showed the new conservative government was providing certainty for the mining industry and protecting environmental standards.

The projects include those led by global mining firms such as Anglo American , Adani Enterprises Ltd , Glencore Xstrata .

"The assessment of each of these projects will include the project's potential impacts on water resources in addition to the other matters protected under national environment law for which they were already being assessed," Hunt said in a statement.

"Once the assessment process is complete I will carefully consider each assessment, the advice of my department, and all public comments received before deciding whether these proposals can go ahead."

A decision on the process had been delayed by September 7 elections and because related environmental laws only passed parliament in late June.

Australia's coal miners are hoping the new government will cut red tape which they complain is holding up major projects at a time when a mining investment boom is cooling.